Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-03-18
DOWN TO DEATH.
Another Added 10 the
List of Horrors.
Shocking Disaster on the PTOVi.
dGlCG Road.

Train Goes Through Bridge and Falls
to the Highway BeIOw-Thirty-SeVen
Persons Reported Killed, and a Large
Number Fatally In sWr e6i-An Eye Wit
Place Where the Accident Occurred
Another Smosh-U Up on the Same Road
APassenGer Car Broken Up and Travel
Delayed Few Hours.
terrible railroad accident occurred on
the West Roxbury and Dsdham branch of
the Boston & Providence railroad at 715
o'clock Monday evening, The scene of the
disaster was at the Bussey woods bridge,
which crosses South street just midway be-
tween the R slndale and Forest Hills
stations The details of the affair are as
follows: The o'clock local train from
Dedham left on time, and was made up with
an engine baggage car and nine passenger
cars, including a smoker, the latter being
the rear car. As the train approached the
bridge in question the passengers felt
sudden jolting Of the cars, followed almost IT,
stantly by forward shooting movement, and
instantly, with terrible crash the five rear
cars plunged through the bridge into the
street below, distance of between 25 and 80
feet
The bridge is an iron girded one about
l2O feet long and 40 feet wide. An embank-
ment 80 feet high runs for a long distance
each way from the bridge, on the top of
which the tracks are located. Immediately
on the falling Of the train in the street, the
shouts and cries that arose from the impris-
oned passengers were heartrending. The
people of Roslindale living in the vicinity
were made aware of the disaster, and the
police ana fire departments were summoned
to the scene. The appearance of the wrecked
train was sickening in the extreme. Four
cars were piled in a promiscuous heap in the
street while on every hand the cries of the
wounded and dying were heard, and here
and there were seen passengers desperately
attempting to relieve themselves from the
weight of wood and iron that bore them to
the ground. The situation of the cars, be-
inning at the rear was as follows: The
rear car or the smoker was tipped com,
pletely over on its top. The car was we'll
filled, and it is impossible to state at this
time the number that were killed and
wounded who were passengers therein.
The second car, No. 81, was tipped partially
over, and was made a complete wreck. Ths
third car, No. 81, lies fiat on its bottom, with
the roof and floor crushed like closed accor
deon. The fourth car, No, 50, is stretched at
right angles across the street, with its top
torn completely Off. The fifth car, No. 81, is
the worst wrecked on the train, and it was in
this car that probably the greatest loss of
| life and limb will result. 1t
fell from the track close to the
side of the street, and parallel with it, Its
roof and sides were crushed into kindling
wood This was the only car that took fire,
but, by the prompt response of the fire de,
partment, the flames were quickly extin-
guished and, as far as known, no one wa:
burned TO death. Subsequently most of the
wounded and dead were taken to the City
Hospital. Word was also sent at once
to the Providence station in the city, and G
wrecking train made up, with as many
physicians as could be summoned, was dis
patched to the scene.
The sixth car, No 2S, crossed the bridge,
but was thrown from the track close to tht
embankment and one Of its sides was com.
pletely torn away and it' Ioof crushed in
The seventh car, No. IS, was also thrown
from the track and badly wrecked Th
| airrntb nd nj +ba hao
engine KEEP the track, and were enabled soor
after to proceed to the city.
The wounded were taken to station j
about two miles distant and all the polio
ambulances summoned from the city
The train was in charge of Conducto
Herbert Alden, who had with him as assist
ant conductors, Myron Tilden and -
Drake. The engineer in charge was Waite
White.
AS stated, the number of killed an
wounded cannot be definitely stated at thi
time. Many of the latter, who were able t
walk, were taken directly to their bones
One young man, named Edward T. Norris
who lived in Dedham, and was employed a
clerk in the Boston and Providence freigh
house, was taken in dying condition to
neighboring boot and shoe store, and hi
father and brother were summoned fror
Dedham. Young Norris died at about 10. /
o'clock.
Engineer White showed creditabls presenc
of mind at the time of the disaster. He fel
the jolting of the train, and, ,glancing behinC
he saw at once that terrible accident wa
about to occur at the bridge. He immediat,
ly put his engine at full speed, and, BLOWN
his whistle, dashed for the ForestHills station
where he gave the alarm Among thos
killed was Patrolman w. B. Lailor, attache
to division 49, He resided on Maple stree
He was appointed on the police force abol
13 years ago, and about five years ago he we
transferred from Brighton to Jamaica Plail
He leaves widow and two children.
was faithful officer, and greatly respecte
by his associates He was on mounted da
duty, and was on his way to his station to r
port when he met his death.
Mr.. ALERT H. Chapman of Jamaica Plai
,uperintendent of the New England Tell
phone and Telegraph Company, first hear
of the accident as he was leaving his town {
IKE the train for Boston at 7.30 o clock. I
: went immediately TO the scene of the acc
dent, at the overhead bridge on South stree
about 100 rods beyond Forest Hills station
He spoke as follows concerning the acciden
J Three cars remained over the track th
went over the bridge, from two Of which Il